Posts Tagged ‘Hometown Showcase’

The Ohio Valley Hoops Classic is a 22 team basketball tournament that takes place in Hillsboro, Ohio. If you follow the R+L Carriers Hometown Showcase, you may remember the city of Hillsboro from hosting the first annual Smokin’ in the Hills BBQ Cook-Off in September. The Ohio Valley Hoops Classic has featured high school basketball teams from around the Ohio and Kentucky area for the past three years. This year, on the 4th annual tournament, we were privileged to be the presenting sponsor. Fans watched high-level basketball and toured our interactive hauler to learn more about R+L Carriers and career opportunities at our terminal in Wilmington, Ohio located 30 minutes away.

Southern State Community College

The basketball tournament took place on the campus of Southern State Community College at their branch in Hillsboro. Southern State has multiple branches, including one in Wilmington. In September, we visited Southern State and met with instructors and directors of public truck driving schools in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. We talked to them about Hometown Showcase and our goals with the program. The Truck Driving Academy offered at Southern State is a comprehensive, hands-on truck driver training program where students can obtain their Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). Both Class A and Class B programs are offered. If you are interested in obtaining your CDL from Southern State, there are several locations other than Wilmington where you can attend to so including; Chillicothe, Cincinnati, Marion, Pike County, Rio Grande, and South Point.

Once you’ve completed your training and meet all of our requirements for hire, come back to our website and apply for one of our driver positions. We’re hiring nationwide!

Chaminade Julienne basketball team posed for a picture outside of the hauler after looking inside.

Career Opportunities for Student-Athletes

Over 200 student-athletes participated in the Ohio Valley Hoops Classic, and several were awarded an MVP trophy, presented by R+L Carriers employees. All the student-athletes will soon need to decide what they would like to do after high school. Our Hometown Showcase representatives were on hand to discuss the many career opportunities in the logistics industry including;

Whether students seek a traditional 4-year university, community college, trade school, or want to head straight into the workforce, our goal has always been to support and educate students on their options and to let them know that the logistics industry is a smart choice.

Southern State and Hometown Showcase representatives presented MVP trophies to one athlete after every game played.

If you are interested in helping students or community members learn more about jobs in the logistics industry, contact us today!

What’s over 5,300 feet long and helps raise money for some very special kids? The Special Olympics North Carolina Truck Convoy!

On October 21, R+L Carriers participated in another truck convoy, this time to benefit the Special Olympics community in North Carolina. This national effort raises money and awareness for Special Olympics in the area with the help of truck drivers and law enforcement.

Special Olympics North Carolina

In 1970, the first Special Olympics North Carolina Games took place with 400 participants. Today, almost 50 years later, it’s one of the largest Special Olympics programs in the world. The event offers 19 different sports to approximately 40,000 athletes on a year-round basis. The athletes do it all, from training to competing in their favorite sports, such as basketball, bowling, equestrian, gymnastics, and volleyball to only name a few.

Our very own Hometown Showcase trailer joined fellow drivers from around the country in Charlotte, NC.

During the truck convoy this year, our very own Hometown Showcase trailer joined fellow drivers from around the country in Charlotte, NC. The truckers met at PNC Music Pavilion, where they were welcomed by athletes and supporters in the Special Olympic community. The trucking industry and law enforcement have been a tremendous supporter of the Special Olympics, and we are always glad to participate. A total of 100 trucks and drivers joined us at this event. Included among those 100 trucks were our friends the Lima Company Memorial, who was honored to join us for this great cause. Together, it’s a pleasure to announce that our Service Center in Charlotte raised $1,500.00 to support Special Olympics North Carolina!

Support Special Olympics

During the truck convoy this year, our very own Hometown Showcase trailer joined fellow drivers from around the country in Charlotte, NC.

It’s an honor to support and give back to communities near our Service Centers around the country. Special Olympics North Carolina and Special Olympics organizations in your area are always looking for supporters and volunteers.

Choosing a career path can be challenging when you are in high school and you don’t know what opportunities are available to you. These are huge decisions to make, but by researching different career options, you can find a good match for you.

As the future of the Logistics industry, high school students are a prime audience for the R+L Carriers’ Hometown Showcase. Traveling across the country to invest in these students and their education is important to us. We do this by providing financial scholarships to high school students while also giving them information on preparing to join our ever-growing industry.

On Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, the R+L Carriers Hometown Showcase Hauler took a trip to Columbiana, OH, and visited the students of Crestview High School.

On Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, the R+L Carriers Hometown Showcase Hauler took a trip to Columbiana, OH, and visited the students of Crestview High School. Not only did the students get to explore the hauler and learn about the career options in logistics during the school day, but fans also got the chance to play Cornhole at the football game that night and win a variety of prizes.

Crestview High School Classroom

R+L representatives went from classroom to classroom at Crestview High School giving a presentation about logistics, transportation and the supply chain. To put it in perspective, we talked about how these three portions of the industry make their life easier. The students were surprised to learn that much of their belongings would not have been in their possession without logistics and transportation.

Since this high school was close to our Youngstown Service Center, a few employees came to help out, talk about their experiences with R+L, and the various career opportunities that are right down the road from these students. Throughout the day, the interactive Hometown Showcase hauler was toured by over 400 students.

Great Way to End a Great Day

The Crestview Rebels dominated the Akron North Vikings 48-8 in the football game that night. The Hometown Showcase hauler was parked in front of the main gate of the stadium, which made it a big attraction. Attendants of the football game could take a break and play Cornhole to win prizes such as blankets, stadium seats, t-shirts, and mini R+L footballs. Before the game, R+L Carriers donated $1000 to Crestview High School and presented a $1000 scholarship to the school for a student to be announced later in the school year. We enjoyed educating their students on the career opportunities that R+L has to offer and wanted to show our gratitude for this opportunity to invest in their future.

The winner of the Hometown Achievement Award, Josh P., has shown exceptional dedication to achievement.

The winner of the Hometown Achievement Award, Josh P., has shown exceptional dedication to achievement. He began a work-study program with the Crestview custodial staff and has demonstrated a fantastic work ethic going above and beyond what is expected in order to do a good job. His politeness and ever-present smile are appreciated by all. Congratulations, Josh!

Our visit to Crestview High School was nothing short of great! We enjoyed showing the students what the logistics industry has to offer and having a blast doing it. Next, the Hometown Showcase hauler will travel to Southern State Community College in Wilmington, OH.

Are you interested in the Hometown Showcase coming to your school or next community event? We are actively scheduling future events. Contact us today for more information!

Raymond, a sales representative of R+L Carriers in Fontana, CA, his wife, Kerry, and two of their children donated wagons on behalf of R+L Carriers to Children’s Hospital of Orange County.

Who knew little wagons could have such a big impact on someone?

After having their wagons stolen in December 2015, Dayton’s Children’s Hospital received five new R+L Carriers Kiddie Carrier wagons to help transport children throughout the hospital. Since then, R+L Carriers has donated wagons to various children’s hospitals all over the country to make life a little easier for these special patients.

Big Impact for Local Family

Raymond, a sales representative of R+L Carriers in Fontana, CA, his wife, Kerry, and two of their children accompanied R+L Carriers Driver, Lucky A., to just such a donation to the Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC). This is also the hospital where Kaylee and Daniel, children of Raymond and Kerry, are patients. Raymond’s family relationship with CHOC began in September 2003 when Daniel, his third child, was born with 4 congenital heart defects. The day after his birth, Daniel was taken to the NICU for a week to run tests. That December, Daniel was three months old and came in for his routine heart catheterization and ended up coding on the table. That day turned into the first of his two open heart surgeries and another week in NICU.

Children’s Hospital of Orange County has made a big impact on both Daniel and Kaylee due to illness.

Three years later in March 2006, Daniel went through his second open heart surgery with an artificial conduit. Fast forwarded to today, Daniel now 13 and heading into high school still has an annual checkup with his cardiologist, but his outlook on life is great! Sixteen-year-old Kaylee, Raymond and Kerry’s middle child, has also been a patient with CHOC for the past four years dealing with the health issues of Fibromyalgia and Celiac Disease. She too has a great outlook on life.

Children’s Hospitals across the country serve a vital purpose in the lives of children in the communities, no matter their age. Raymond and Kerry are thankful to CHOC and their team of doctors and nurses. Donating the wagons to CHOC was a great opportunity for our family here at R+L Carriers. We love being able to give back to the community, helping one of our own employees, and brightening the day of children who are patients at hospitals. The Kiddie Carrier wagons pack a big impression, and the R+L Carriers family is delighted to be a part of these children’s lives.

Coach Shuman told R+L Carriers that he chose Taylor for the award because he has dealt with a lot of adversity in his life while maintaining his grades and being a top athlete with a great attitude.

“Tim met all the qualifications and then some,” Shuman said. “He’s been through some hardships in his life but he doesn’t let anything get him down.”

Shuman said Taylor is consistently one of his “top three runners” on the Springfield High Cross-Country Team.

Taylor’s local community service work includes volunteering at the local Soup Kitchen. Taylor is also a member of his high school’s Key Club and the Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC). In his spare time, he plays in a local Frisbee sport league.

“Tim is an all-around great kid,” Shuman said.

Taylor intends to join the National Guard once he graduates and has long-term goals of becoming a police officer.

“I was shocked and honored to receive the award,” Taylor said. “It means a lot.”

The R+L Carriers Hometown Achievement Award is an opportunity for teachers and administrators to recognize students that make a difference in their school and community. This award showcases a student who demonstrates sportsmanship, academic excellence, exceptional character, and a commitment to their community. These students don’t have to be athletes but they are an example to their peers of how a positive attitude can power through adversity. Hometown Achievement Award recipients demonstrate the qualities that make their community special and worth showcasing.

Are you a technology lover and a software junkie? Are you seeking direction on which information technology position will best suit your needs? Here’s 5 technology jobs that are in demand and should be on your career short list.

.Net Developer

Is software coding in your blood? Do you have a strong understanding of C# or Java? Then there’s a job waiting for you. A .Net developer position allows you to work as part of a team implementing corporate software development initiatives. .Net developer positions vary with each company. At R+L Carriers, .Net developers develop enterprise web applications using C#, Oracle, web services and messaging.

.Net developers are tough to find. Those that have a firm grasp of the .Net platform and can use it to solve business problems will go far.

Web Designer

A web designer develops and maintains web sites for clients and companies. Web designers are also responsible for fixing and coming up with solutions to web site problems. Web designers must be creative and technical at the same time. Web designers must be able to make a web site functional and easy to use while also making it creative and visually appealing. Web designers should also have some HTML and design experience.

You must be a fast learner who thrives on meeting deadlines and a master problem solver to enjoy the thrill of this job.

IT Project Manager

Is paying attention to detail one of your strong suits? Project managers document business requirements while overseeing the design, development, testing and deployment of enterprise applications. Some of the work project managers perform include:

Developing and maintaining a work breakdown structure

Developing and maintaining project schedules

Interfacing with business stakeholders and developers

Managing projects and seeing them through to completion on schedule

If you are goal oriented and enjoy working with teams to build things, then a project manager position is likely for you.

There are five technology jobs that will help you cross the career finish line.

IT Business Analyst

Business analysts act as a communication bridge between an Information Technology Department and business stakeholders. They must be great communicators that translate stakeholder business needs into IT requirements.

Even better? Business analysts don’t necessarily need a technology background to apply. What you do need is a basic understanding of technology and an attitude that screams: Problem solver business analyst ninja!

Quality Assurance Analyst

Quality counts. Software geeks that care about their products and have attention to detail that matches the requirements should consider a quality analyst position. They must have well-developed critical thinking skills that allow them to be great software testers and problem solvers. Job duties include testing strategies, troubleshooting websites and software applications and preparing detailed documentation of issues. Your skill level should be high in these areas to be a master quality analyst:

Active listening

Writing skills

Attention to detail

Organization

Complex problem solving

Programming

Reading comprehension

Apply For Technology Jobs Now

R+L Carriers is looking for talented information technology recruits for all five of these top technology jobs mentioned above. R+L Carriers has grown from one truck to a fleet of more than 5,500 trucks and 13,000 trailers. Family owned and operated for more than 50 years, we offer a work environment that is both fun and challenging. If you’re looking for technology jobs in a creative and a team-oriented work environment, apply today for a position in our IMT Department at careers.rlcarriers.com/imt.

We have 4 tips to help you decide what kind of company work environment will make you happy.

Your graduation day is around the corner and you’re about to head into the work force. Full Time. You’re going to be spending between 40-50 hours a week at work, meaning you’ll be spending more time with co-workers than most family members or college friends soon. Once you take a deep breath and let that sink in, you’ll realize a company’s culture has a lot to do with how happy you’ll be during those hours. Here’s 4 tips to help you decide what kind of company work environment will make you happy.

Check the Company’s Web Site

Part of your job interview research includes checking out the company’s web site. When you’re doing your research, look for dedicated pages that explain what the company does, explains who they are and their values and company culture. Many company web sites have these pages buried in and around the job employment or job openings web pages. Do some digging.

Check the Company Social Media Presence

You’ll also want to scan a company’s social media accounts. These are great sites to investigate what the company is really doing behind the scenes and what they share with the public. Companies that post get- togethers with employees participating in basketball free-throw tournaments, crazy hat and crazy sock day and other fun rituals might make you realize this is a company that’s able to have a little fun while they work. How open are they to dialogue on the pages too? Are they responding to comments and questions? This will tell you a lot about the company’s philosophy and customer service culture.

Ask Questions During Your Interview

We know you’re prepared for your interview with questions about the company that will impress prospective employers. But dig a little deeper to learn about their culture. Here are some questions to try and find out more:

Describe what working at this company is like?

What’s your favorite part about working here?

How many hours a week do you spend at work?

Do any of you get together after work?

If you’re being interviewed by several different people, make sure you ask these questions and other questions to as many employees as possible so you can get a better feel for the company’s culture.

R+L Carriers is looking for talented software developers among other positions.

You’ll also want to find out as much as possible about the company’s work assignments during your interview. Find out what kind of projects the company is working on to gauge if you’ll be a good fit. Get examples of projects and assess them so you’re comfortable that you can make an impact with the work assignments handed to you.

Movin’ On Up

Not only do you want to find out more about the culture of the company for new hires, but you want to know if you have a future there too. Whether it’s a family-owned or privately owned company, you want to make sure there’s room for you to grow, by exploring options for both technical advancement and achieving leadership roles. Employers are looking for employees that want to grow technically and become more proficient.

Apply Now

R+L Carriers is looking for talented software developers among other positions. Family owned and operated for 50 years, we offer a work environment that is both fun and challenging. If you’re looking for a technology position in a company that values family and fun, apply today for a position in our IMT Department at careers.rlcarriers.com/imt.

The Hometown Showcase will be supporting R+L Carriers at several Career Open House events in the next two weeks. In total, 8 career open house events are scheduled on May 14 and May 21. The Hometown Showcase will be attending the career open houses in Canton, MA on May 14 and Newark, NJ on May 21. Additional career open houses will take place on May 21 in the following cities:

Career Opportunities

Those who attend the career open house will meet with industry professionals to discuss the competitive compensation packages for available opportunities with R+L Carriers. Candidates can expect traditional benefits including Healthcare, Life insurance, 401 (k) Retirement Plan and Paid Vacation, Holidays and Personal/Sick Days. One of our most unique non-traditional benefits include three employee resorts located in Daytona Beach, FL, Big Bear lake, CA and Pigeon Forge, TN established exclusively for R+L employees and their families.

Hometown Showcase on Display

The R+L Carriers Hometown Showcase will be on display in Canton, MA (5/14) and Newark, NJ (5/21) to provide an in-depth look into the logistics industry. Inside our 53 foot interactive hauler, those attending the career open house will be able to get a sense of R+L Carriers as a company. We’ll provide the fun with corn hole and music outside the hauler.

Inside our 53 foot interactive hauler, those attending the career open house will be able to get a sense of R+L Carriers as a company.

For more information on the career open house events visit our Facebook Page. View additional career opportunities on our Career Center. If you are interested in having us attend your next community event, contact us today!

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) School, graduates are equipped with the essential tools for success when entering the job market.

Collins Career Tech Center students toured the Hometown Showcase hauler to learn about various career opportunities suited for STEM school alumni. If you’re interested in a similar career, visit our Career Center to learn more.

Wright State University – April Craze

April Craze is an annual tradition at Wright State University that includes live music, local food vendors, inflatable games and the presence of numerous student organizations. This year R+L Carriers Hometown Showcase provided our interactive entertainment hub. Despite this event not sanctioned as an official job fair, students were able to talk to R+L Carriers representatives about career opportunities upon graduation.

The Cornhole Challenge was a big hit at the hauler too – make the first of four tosses and receive an official Hometown Showcase stadium seat. Make at least one of the other three tosses and receive an official Hometown Showcase blanket. P.S. nobody left empty-handed!

The Cornhole Challenge was a big hit at the hauler.

Coldwater High School – Double Header Baseball Game

The Hometown Showcase goal is to support achievement in communities around the country. In December, the Hometown Showcase was a sponsor for the 2015 OHSAA Football Championships. The three-day event in Columbus, Ohio featured 14 Ohio high school football teams, including the Coldwater High School Cavaliers. The Cavs beat Canton Central Catholic for the Division V State Championship and were ushered into the R+L Carriers Hometown Showcase Championship Zone, a pep rally for the winners that featured drumlines, cheerleaders and fans from the school. The athletic department received a $1,000 Scholarship on behalf of R+L Carriers to be given to a student demonstrating servant leadership, sportsmanship and dedication to their community.

Four months later the Hometown Showcase and Coldwater High School have connected again, this time at a double-header baseball game this past Saturday. In addition to the action on the field, off the field a R+L Carriers presented a $1,000 scholarship to a Coldwater High School athlete, Mitch Clune. Football player Mitch Clune, a senior at Coldwater High School is a leader on and off the field and looks forward to studying Chemical Engineering this fall at The Ohio State University.

R+L Carriers presented a $1,000 scholarship to a Coldwater High School athlete, Mitch Clune.

Delivering opportunities to students across America through community engagement is the purpose of the Hometown Showcase. If you are interested in having our team and hauler at your next tech school event, college fair or sporting event, let’s get rolling and contact us today! If you’re interested in a career in logistics, customer service, sales, technology and more visit our Career Center to learn more.

We have the the 8 top interview questions for software developers that you’ll want to be prepared to answer.

Interviews with prospective employers for your programming or software development job are already on your calendar? That’s great!

Start prepping yourself for the kinds of questions that are going to be thrown your way instead of sitting there with your mouth wide open.

“What steps would you take to troubleshoot what is causing the issue?”

At the end of the day, you may be labeled a programmer or developer, but to employers, you’re the troubleshooting master that figures out what’s wrong and then diagnoses and fixes software issues. Quickly. Remember that your troubleshooting skills are more important than how you fix the problem at the end of the day. So your future employer needs to be confident you can go on a scavenger hunt to troubleshoot and then solve the problem.

“What’s the project you’re most proud of working on and why did you thrive while working on it?”

This question is used to gauge what you like and don’t like. But it also tells an employer a lot about what you like to work on, what you value as a developer and what you’re thinking about while you’re working on a project. Think about the type of answer you give because it says a lot about what you like to do. Make sure you give specifics of what you worked on and a scenario that shows a specific project you worked on alone and not as part of a team.

“What project did you enjoy working on the most and why?”

Give an honest answer. Don’t be afraid to tell prospective employers what you love to do. Why? Employers are using your answer to gauge what you enjoy doing so they can find a way to have you doing similar work for them. That’s because happy employees stay and work harder doing tasks they enjoy.

“What’s the project you’re least proud of and how could the outcome have been different?”

You have to make mistakes in order to learn, so don’t worry about this question. Make sure your answer gives a future employer an example of how you learned from your mistake and what you would do differently. Employers also want to gauge how you handle projects you’re not interested in.

“What experience do you have in the programming or developer field?”

Exude confidence and positive energy when you talk so you come across as motivated and ready to get to work.

This is a tough one if you’re fresh out of college but it doesn’t have to be. Even if you’re answering questions for your first real job in your field, you should be showing up with a portfolio that that lists projects and open source contributions you’ve worked on. Surely your work there will impress and intrigue them. If you don’t have experience, explain what kinds of projects you would like to work on.

“What’s your greatest weakness?”

We all hate this question. Why? Because we’re forced to tell people something at which we don’t particularly excel. The best advice we can give is to be honest and emphasize what you’re doing to improve upon that weakness. Try saying something unique or funny when answering this question to stand out from other candidates and break the ice. If you’re diagnosing weaknesses, future employers think you can diagnose software issues too. See what we did there? Always remember you’re the problem solver and tailor your answer to remind employers you know how to solve issues.

“Why do you want to work for us and do you have any questions for us?”

Whatever you do, don’t start answering this question with the words: “No, I don’t think I have any questions right now.” Employers automatically think you’re disinterested in the job or their company. Do your homework on the company’s website. Come prepared with a list of questions you have about products and software the company uses. Ask about the company’s development process, the tools and languages the company uses and what kind of daily tasks you would be assigned if hired. Wow future employers and make sure they know their company is on your short list of places you want to work.

“Why should we hire you?”

Most people don’t like this question either. You don’t want to brag about yourself but you don’t want to undersell yourself either. Be prepared to rattle off some of your best traits without being a braggart. At the same time, exude confidence and positive energy when you talk so you come across as motivated and ready to get to work.

Did you know R+L Carriers is looking for talented entry level software developers? A family owned and operated company for 50 years, we offer a work environment that is fun and challenging. If you’re looking for a software development position in a company that values family, apply today for a position in our IMT Department at career.rlcarriers.com/imt.